By Jim Callis
July 18, 2003

It isn't often that two playoff contenders within the same division make a trade. But with Craig Counsell back off the disabled list and rookies Alex Cintron and Matt Kata playing better than expected, the Diamondbacks had no use for Tony Womack. The Rockies were looking for bench depth, so on Friday they sent low Class A righthander Mike Watson.

The deal is essentially a giveway. Arizona will pay almost all of the remaining $2.39 million of Womack's $6 million salary for 2003, with Colorado picking up only the prorated minimum ($119,000). Watson is lightly regarded as a prospect.

Womack will be fondly remembered in Arizona for two key hits in the club's 2001 championship run. His RBI single with two out in the bottom of the ninth won the deciding Game Five of the Division Series against the Cardinals. In the final game of the World Series, he again came through in the bottom of the ninth, pulling a Mariano Rivera pitch down the right-field line for a game-tying RBI double. That ended Rivera's streak of 23 consecutive postseason saves and set the stage for Luis Gonzalez' game-winning single two batters later.

Womack, 33, has one plus tool in his speed, but he's not the same threat he was when he won three straight National League stolen-base crowns from 1997-99. He has just eight steals in 11 attempts over 61 games in 2003. He's batting .237-2-15 in 61 games this year, and he offers little power or on-base ability. He's not very good defensively either and is a bit overmatched at shortstop. The Rockies will use him as a backup in the middle infield and in center field. Womack sprained his right knee and missed the previous three weeks, getting recalled from a rehab assignment right before the trade. A career .272-30-303 hitter with 304 steals in 980 games, he'll be a free agent after the season.

Watson, 22, was a 33rd-round pick out of Penn State last year. Though he can reach the low 90s, he went 1-3, 5.02 in 17 games at Asheville. He had a 29-11 strikeout-walk ratio and .284 opponent average in 29 innings.